Objectives: This study reviews literature on the psychiatric effects of delta-8-THC, particularly psychosis and severe mental health outcomes, to highlight the need for further research and regulation.
Background: Marijuana, the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, sees increasing use due to legalization. Although moderate use is generally safe, adverse effects can occur, especially in those with preexisting conditions.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by painful sinus tracts and significant scarring. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis and outcomes of HS. This systematic review aims to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and HS, exploring potential therapeutic benefits of vitamin D supplementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are well-documented gender differences in the risk and severity of sleep disorders and associated comorbidities. While fundamental sex differences in sleep regulatory mechanisms may contribute to gender disparities, biological responses to sleep loss and stress may underlie many of the risks for sleep disorders in women and men. Some of these sex differences appear to be dependent on sex chromosome complement (XX or XY) and the organizational effects of reproductive hormones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Ketamine and esketamine have been used in the field of psychiatry to alleviate conditions such as major depressive disorder. Our objective was to evaluate the current literature on the use of ketamine for symptoms of social withdrawal in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism-like conditions.
Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted to identify literature involving the use of ketamine to treat symptoms of autism and social withdrawal.
Bacterial biofilms on orthopedic implants are resistant to the host immune response and to traditional systemic antibiotics. Novel therapies are needed to improve patient outcomes. TRL1068 is a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a biofilm anchoring protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care
March 2023
This study focuses on a cohort of adults (40-plus) in rural South Africa to unpack associations between physical health and receipt of social support, and the extent to which these associations were moderated by marital status. We use logistic regression to estimate the odds of having received emotional, physical, or financial support separately for men ( = 2247) and women ( = 2609). Our results suggest having an Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitation or having at least one chronic condition was not significantly associated with social support receipt for women, but having an ADL limitation was associated with reduced odds of receiving financial support among men.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The mechanism by which hypophosphataemia develops following kidney transplantation remains debated, and limited research is available regarding risk factors. This study aimed to assess the association between recipient and donor variables, and the severity of post-transplantation hypophosphataemia.
Methods: We performed a single-centre retrospective observational study.
The relationship between mental health and receipt of social support is not well understood in low- and middle-income countries. In this paper, we focus on a cohort of older adults (40-plus) in rural South Africa to unpack associations between mental health and receipt of social support, and the extent to which marital status modifies these associations. We use baseline data from a population-based study, Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI), conducted between 2014 and 2015.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious studies have indicated that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other forms of child maltreatment (CM), as well as their subsequent posttraumatic symptoms, are significant risk factors for the development of disordered eating behaviors and attitudes and eating disorders (EDs). However, there are no known reports of CM based on forensic interview and assessment that have been linked to disordered eating behaviors and attitudes, or eating disorders (EDs), especially in children and adolescents. We, therefore, examined the hypothesis that ED-related symptoms would be significantly associated with trauma-related symptoms in children with reported maltreatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Vascular calcification, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is common among patients with CKD and is an independent contributor to increased vascular stiffness and vascular risk in this patient group. Vitamin K is a cofactor for proteins involved in prevention of vascular calcification. Whether or not vitamin K supplementation could improve arterial stiffness in patients with CKD is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this review article, we highlight several potential biologic and chemical agents of "neuroterrorism" of which neurohospitalists should be aware: anthrax, botulism toxin, brucella, plague, smallpox, organophosphates and nerve agents, cyanide, and carfentanil. Such agents may have direct neurologic effects, resulting in encephalopathy, paralysis, and/or respiratory failure. Neurohospitalists should be on the lookout for abnormal neurologic syndrome clustering, especially among patients presenting to the emergency department.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNoncontributory pensions serve as an important resource for poverty-affected households in low- and middle-income countries. This study explores how a recent policy change to pension receipt influences perceived quality of life among older South Africans. We use survey data from the longitudinal World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health and from the Agincourt Health and Socio-Demographic Surveillance System census.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe world's population is aging, but quality of life in older adulthood is unequally distributed. Using measures of self-rated health and subjective well-being from Wave 6 (2010-2014) of the World Values Survey, we examine the individual and social factors that shape older adulthood in 57 countries. In addition to examining inequalities in health and well-being for older adults between countries, we examine the differences between older (50 and over) and younger adults (under 50) within countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSocioeconomic deprivation (SED) influences likelihood of pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PET), but the mechanisms behind this are unclear. We explored the relationships between SED and patient characteristics at referral, which might explain this discrepancy. A retrospective cohort study was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: A simple, reliable tool for rapid estimation of weight in children would be useful in limited-resource settings where current weight estimation tools are not reliable, nearly all global under-five mortality occurs, severe acute malnutrition is a significant contributor in approximately one-third of under-five mortality, and a weight scale may not be immediately available to healthcare professionals including first-response providers.
Objective: To test the accuracy and precision of an existing weight estimation tool based on patient height and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) in children between six months and five years of age in low-to-middle income countries.
Design: Data were collected in 2,434 nutritional surveys during 1992-2017 using a modified Expanded Program of Immunization two-stage cluster design.
Purpose Of The Study: This article evaluates the influence of local district conditions on subjective quality of life of older South African adults. Policymakers increasingly recognize that "successful" aging policies must not only address physical health needs but also factors that influence subjective well-being.
Design And Methods: To investigate the influence of area-level distribution of "public goods" on well-being in a low- and middle-income setting, nationally representative WHO-Study of Global AGEing and Adult Health (WHO-SAGE) survey data is combined with district-level data that captures built resources and health system distribution.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
August 2018
Objective: A limited understanding exists of the relationship between disability and older persons' living arrangements in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We examine the associations between living arrangements, disability, and gender for individuals older than 50 years in rural South Africa.
Method: Using the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) survey and Agincourt Health and socio-Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) data, we explore older persons' self-reported disability by living arrangements and gender, paying particular attention to various multigenerational arrangements.